Report: Doughty unlikely to appear at start of camp

Report: Doughty unlikely to appear at start of campWith Los Angeles Kings players due to report to the team's practice site in El Segundo, Calif., for physicals Friday, it's almost certain restricted free agent defenseman Drew Doughty won't be there.

With Los Angeles Kings players due to report to the team's practice site in El Segundo, Calif., for physicals Friday, it's almost certain restricted free agent defenseman Drew Doughty won't be there.

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday night that the 21-year-old blueliner remains home in Canada. After physicals Friday, the team will open training camp Saturday.

"We're committed to being engaged in discussions and we're more than willing to talk," Don Meehan, Doughty's agent, told the newspaper. "I think the next step is for the Kings to respond to our correspondence."

Meehan said he had sent correspondence to the Kings on Thursday in response to communication he had received from the club by e-mail and Federal Express.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi refused to comment for the newspaper's story. He had said on Sunday that he hadn't given up hope on having Doughty in camp on time.

"I don't know if I expect it, but I have hope," he said, then added that the two sides differ on the length and dollar amount of the contract.

The Kings reportedly have offered Doughty a nine-year deal, while Doughty's desire is for a shorter deal, possibly between six and eight years.

Doughty is considered one of the game's rising blue-line stars. As a 20-year-old second-year player, Doughty had 16 goals and 43 assists, won a gold medal with Canada at the 2010 Olympics and was a Norris Trophy finalist. He suffered a concussion early last season and his numbers slipped to 11 goals and 29 assists in 76 games.

Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft